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Aventurine shifts his weight under the gaze of the attendants in the Dewlight Pavillion and makes a point of staring at his phone, pretending he doesn't have any thoughts of vandalizing what was once Sunday’s inner sanctum and his own attempted execution chamber. He's hardly the kind of man to piss on the carpet just to spite the Oak family. Anymore.
He’s not here to rub salt in the wound, satisfying as payback might be. No, he’s here for the formal presentation of the IPC’s latest appeal to the Astral Express, a combat simulation filled with little avatars of some notable figures in the Trailblazer’s life.
Aventurine doesn't know much about the specifics of it. His input into the game’s creation had been little more than a full-body scan for his likeness and a few questions about the best probability odds to lock a player in a gambling fervor. He’s here for the presentation in a purely decorative role, like a vase of flowers on a brunch table.
Flattering, maybe. Boring, certainly.
Leaning on the table next to him, Topaz stifles a yawn behind her other hand.
A few feet away, Lady Bonajade continues to talk through the mechanics of the game with the Express’ liaison, most of it passing through one ear and out the other when:
“... give Dr. Ratio a try.”
Aventurine’s gaze flicks up at the familiar (dear) name and finds Jade watching him. Uh oh.
“He’s a very strong unit,” Jade continues, addressing the Trailblazer with her words as her eyes dance with amusement, “Try using him in combat.”
He makes a point of looking back at his phone, but he's already lost; his attention is riveted on the conversation a few feet away and the playful lilt to his senior's voice as she talks.
“You can combine duplicates to make your Ratio even more powerful. Give it a shot?”
Aventurine keeps a straight face as he listens to the simulated combat and can only hope the low lighting conceals the flush to the tips of his ears. It was one thing to know that you existed in a little video game with your friends and that certain mechanics encouraged you to be teamed up with your colleagues. It was another to be standing in a room while your boss made a point of praising the guy you have a little bit of a crush on.
“He is really strong,” the Trailblazer agrees, “but… why is your character such a low cost asset, Jade?”
“Ah, you noticed. I wanted to make myself accessible, dear, even at the cost of being a little outshined by my colleagues. We’re not competing against each other in this little simulation, after all.”
He hadn't known that Lady Bonajade had picked the value of her own character. But, and Aventurine’s gaze slides sideways to a very pleased looking Topaz, he should have guessed it by how high little Jelena’s character cost had been set. Ah, well. At least his character wasn't on the cheapest rung.
In a fit of boredom, he opens up one of his text message conversations with the professor himself.
\\ Did you do any play testing for your character in the Currency Wars video game? \\
The read receipt is immediate. Aventurine stares at the screen, chewing on the inside of his lip as he waits for a reply.
// No. //
Short response. He must be in a meeting or otherwise occupied with Guild activities. Ratio never answers his phone during lectures.
\\ We’re showcasing it to the Astral Express envoy now. Just curious. \\
// If you have questions about the video game your own company produced, you should ask them. //
So it's a bad meeting Ratio is in. Hah.
// Or did you have another reason to message me? //
“Good synergy is essential in any situation. Did you notice that the Aventurine and Dr. Ratio unit both share the follow-up attack bond?”
Aventurine freezes mid-type. Bond? Hadn’t that been called something else in the beta?
“Placing them in combat together will give both of them a boost in power. You can find other characters with the same attribute by tapping here,” and he can feel the weight of Jade’s gaze on him as he stares, unseeing, at his phone screen.
// Well? //
“It's rude to be on your phone when we’re giving a product demo, y’know,” Topaz whispers to him, abruptly close. Aventurine fumbles with his phone as he shoves it in his pocket.
“We’re not demonstrating anything,” he replies coolly, “our little avatars are doing all the—”
“Wow, Ratio really is so cool! Look at all that damage!”
Oh, Mama Fenge, no, not the Astral Express kid too. Aventurine looks over a little too quickly, but the envoy in question is completely engrossed in the game in front of them, delighted and oblivious to the outright smirk Lady Bonajade is wearing.
“...lo? Hello?”
Ratio’s voice, muffled and slightly distorted, comes from Aventurine’s coat pocket.
“Excuse me,” he manages as he jogs out of the room, pulling his phone out of his pocket as he pushes open the dramatic and surprisingly heavy door with his shoulder. “Hey, what's up?”
“That is my question, gambler. You called me.”
Ah, fuck. “Sorry, I— musta hit it on accident.” He winces as he braces himself for the verbal lashing to come.
“Hm.” A beat, then his voice softens. (Considering Ratio's usual acerbic tone, now he just sounds normal.) “Are you all right?”
If his face hadn’t been red before, it absolutely is now. Aventurine rubs his free palm over his cheek and can feel the heat radiating off it. “Uh. Y-yeah. Mostly.” When another question doesn't immediately follow, he clarifies. “We’re at the Dewlight Pavillion giving a product demo to the Astral Express. Sunday’s old office.”
“That man didn't tag along, did he?”
“No, no, it’s just the Stellaron one.” Aventurine walks further away from the office, sinking into one of the plush orange couches that surround the Sandbox in the middle. His memories out here are much more fond, at least. “I’m all right, though.”
“If you are sure, then. I shall return to the meeting, as pointless as it is.”
“Wait.” The request surprises himself, and for a moment he thinks Ratio hung up anyway. A quick check of his phone confirms the call is still active, and Aventurine’s pulse flutters anew. Breathe. “I did have a question about the input you gave for your avatar in Currency Wars. Did you know that— our characters were designed to work well together?”
“Yes.”
Aventurine swallows. “Oh.”
“... Do we not work together well in the real world as well?”
“No— yes, I mean, we— we do work together pretty well, I just—” He leans forward and lets out a long, unsteady breath. “Sorry, my head’s in a weird place today.”
“You are back in the same room where a very powerful Pathstrider tortured you a few months ago. I would be more surprised if you were not unsettled.” Ratio clicks his tongue on the other side of the line. “Tell Lady Bonajade I asked for your urgent assistance and you must head out at once.”
“Helping me skip out of work? That’s rather out of character for you, doc.” He's smiling now as he leans back against the couch cushions, preparing himself to stand.
“What are you talking about? I fully intend to put you to work when you get here. Your colleagues in the Fulfillment Department could pass for botched experiments of that lunatic Dr. Primitive.”
“Awww, gonna let me throw my weight around a little? You’re too kind. See you in a few.”
Aventurine ends the call and returns to the office, opening the door gently. The Astral Express envoy is still playing the game, their body silhouetted by flashing lights as animations play on the screen in front of him, and Aventurine catches Jade’s eye easily.
“I gotta go,” he murmurs to her. “Ratio wants me.”
“I’m sure he does.” Jade pats him on the shoulder with her best you-just-signed-a-credit-agreement smile. “Take care, child. Head back to the office when he's finished with you.”
Well. There goes any hope that she didn’t know about his little crush. “Right. Thanks. Bye.”
As he heads to the shuttle port, the only question on Aventurine’s mind is how long he might have before Ratio learns about his feelings, too.
At this rate, he might have a week.
